Glen Farley has covered the Patriots for The Enterprise since the Raymond Berry regime.

Record number of Hall of Famers headed to Canton

About this blog

By Glen Farley

Glen Farley has covered sports for The Enterprise since 1978. His time on the Patriots beat dates back to the final year of the Raymond Berry regime, 1989. You could say his roots lie in Foxboro. He once won an award for a piece he wrote on the sod
...

Glen Farley has covered sports for The Enterprise since 1978. His time on the Patriots beat dates back to the final year of the Raymond Berry regime, 1989. You could say his roots lie in Foxboro. He once won an award for a piece he wrote on the sod at Gillette Stadium.

CANTON, OHIO – Although the Aug. 3, 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony is still weeks away, a near-record number of Hall of Fame members have made reservations to attend this year’s festivities. Already, 110 Hall of Famers – just one shy of the all-time record for returning Hall of Fame members – have indicated they plan to participate in what is being billed as the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Golden Anniversary Reunion. Hall of Fame officials expect that upwards of 130 Hall of Famers will be on hand when the Class of 2013 – Larry Allen, Cris Carter, Curley Culp, Jonathan Ogden, Bill Parcells, Dave Robinson and Warren Sapp – are formally enshrined.

This year’s expected record number of returning Hall of Famers, coupled with the Class of 2013, will result in the largest gathering of Hall of Fame members from any sport in one place at the same time. Typically there are 75-80 returning Hall of Famers attending the various Enshrinement Festival events each year.

The Golden Anniversary Reunion is a part of the "new" Hall of Fame’s year-long 50th Anniversary celebration that has been highlighted by a number of events, not the least of which was the completion of the Hall of Fame’s two-year, $27 million expansion and renovation program.

"We are truly excited that so many Hall of Famers will be on hand this year to help celebrate both the enshrinement of the newest Class as well as our 50th Anniversary," commented Hall of Fame President/Executive Director Steve Perry. "For many this will be the first time our Hall of Famers will see the ’new’ Hall of Fame and we’re anxious to see their reaction. We know they will be pleased."

Special fan-friendly events involving the football legends are being finalized. Already scheduled for Friday, Aug. 2, is a grand "Red Carpet" arrival at the Hall of Fame of the returning Hall of Famers and the 2013 Class of Enshrinees. Once at the Hall of Fame, the entire group will gather on the front steps of the "new" Hall of Fame for an historic group photo. The public is welcomed and encouraged to attend this once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity. Additionally, autograph sessions and public appearances will be scheduled throughout the Enshrinement Weekend.

"Nowhere else will fans be able to interact with this many Hall of Famers in one place," commented Perry. "It will be a truly fun-filled historic weekend."

Ticket information for all the Enshrinement Festival events can be found on the Hall’s website.